Lifting tool for building blocks



Jan. 17, 1961 c. J. ELLIS ETAL LIFTING TOOL FOR BUILDING BLOCKS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 51, 1957 Clayton .11 E //is Frederick C.McLaughl/h INVENTORS BY M Jan. 17, 1961 c. J. ELLIS ETAL LIFTING TOOLFOR BUILDING BLOCKS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1957 Clayton J. EllisFrederick 6. McLaugh/m INVENTORS 401626..

BY mzsm United States Patent LIFI'ING TOOL FOR BUILDING BLOCKS ClaytonJ. Ellis, 1 Green Mountain Place, Middlebury, Vt., and Frederick C.McLaughlin, Poultney, Vt.

Filed Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,392

2 Claims. 01. 294-62) The present invention relates to an improved handtool or implement through the medium of which a user thereof may readilycatch hold of a concrete or similar building block, lift it, carry it,and otherwise handle it as is done with the aid of similarly constructedtools commonly referred to in'the art as lifting and carrying tongs.

As the preceding statement of the invention reveals, many and variedstyles and forms of block lifting and handling tools have been devisedby others. The present invention relates, obviously, to a structurallydifferent tool which, it is believed, is not only simpler inconstruction but is easier to use, is highly efficient in accomplishingthe ends desired, and is otherwise aptly suited to comply withmanufacturing requirements and the need for a tool which may be not onlyquickly engaged with the block but just as easily released from theblock.

Some users of tools in this category of invention employ a single handfor lifting and carrying requirements. Others find it necessary toemploy both hands. It is an object of the present invention to provide atool which is characterized by a handle having a central hand-grip forsingle handed use and optional hand-grips at the left and right endportions which may be used when both hands are needed.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a handle having a centrallymounted hand-grip for single-handed use and optional hand-grips at itsrespective end portions for use when both hands are needed, a first legrigidly attached to and depending from one end portion of the handle,said leg being provided at its lower end portion with at least one blockengaging and gripping member, and a second leg complemental to saidfirst leg and depending from said handle, fixed thereon and spaced fromthe other end portion of the first leg and provided at its lower endwith a spring biased pivotally mounted block engaging and grippingmember.

Further novelty is directed to a construction wherein each leg isprovided adjacent the upper end with a crosshead which is shaped toguidingly pilot the leg into the intended operating position and is alsoshouldered to limit the degree of insertion of the leg into the openingin the block.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a view of a concrete block in section and showing the improvedlifting and handling tool with parts in section and elevation and withthe gripping pins engaged.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 22, 3-3 and 4-4,respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. l the building block (cement or an equivalentmaterial) is denoted by the numeral 6 and the usual cored openings inthe block are denoted at 8.

2,968,510 Patented Jan. 17, 1961 ice The handle as an entity is denotedby the numeral 10 and it comprises a linearly straight rod member ofrequisite length denoted at 12, provided at the center with one handgrip 14 and at the respective left and right ends with additionalhand-grips 16 and 18. As explained the center grip 14 is forsingle-handed use and the end grips 16 and 18 are used with both handswhen needed.

The first depending leg is denoted at 20 and has a straight lower endportion 22 which parallels the wall of the opening 8 and is providedwith upper and lower pointed gripping pins 24 and 26. The upper endportion is formed into a splitcollar 28 the portions of which embracethe part 30 of the hand-grip and are fastened thereto by clamping bolt32. The handle has a keyway 34 into which a key 36 carried by the collaris fastened. Theupper portion of the leg, denoted at. 38, depends atright angles from the axis of the handle and the intermediate portion 40is disposed at an oblique angle and has a cross-head 42 which as shownin Fig. 2 has stop shoulders 44 and converging edge portions 46 defininga pilot to assist in feeding the leg into the opening 8 positioning itand regulating it when the stops 44 come into the position shown.

The second companion leg is denoted by the numeral 48 and inasmuch as itis structurally the same insofar as the principal components areconcerned, the same reference numerals are used to designate like parts.There is a difference however in the lower end construction which, asshown in Fig. 4, is bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced furcations.These furcations straddle a blocklike member 50 which is fitted betweenthe furcations 52 and is removably pivoted in place at 54. Theblock-like member carries a pointed pin or prong 56 which, like the pins24 and 26, is adapted to be embedded in the surface of the block toobtain the desired grip. There is a coil spring 58 provided and thisspring is parallel to the leg 48 and is anchored at the upper end at 69and has its lower end 62 connected to the pivoted block 50 to exert apull in a direction to keep the pin 56 engaged with the wall surface.

It will be evident that in use the legs are inserted into the respectivecored holes 8 in the block 6, said legs being, by reason of theirparticular construction, self-centering. The block can then be liftedwith one hand using the center hand-grip 14 or with both hands using theouter grips 16 and 18. To release all that is necessary is to exert aslight upward pull on the grip 16 above the leg 20. As is evident, thecoil spring 58 keeps the pivoted block 50 under tension to maintain thepointed pin 56 in its desired gripping position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in handling and carrying a concrete building block, amanually usable lifting tool comprising a rigid elongated handlestraight from end. to end, a primary hand-grip for balancedsingle-handed use mounted on said handle midway between the respectiveends of the handle, auxiliary hand-grips mounted on the respective endportions of said handle and adapted to be simultaneously gripped whenboth hands of the user are needed in satisfactorily catching hold of andusing the handle, a first leg having a lower end portion disposed atright angles and transversely to the axis of said handle, pointed blockengaging and lifting members fixed to and project ing outwardly fromsaid lower end portion of the first leg,

a median portion of said leg slanting upwardly and inwardly from thelower end portion of the first leg, the upper end portion of said firstleg being disposed at an approximate right angle to the axis of .thehandle and being provided with a collar embracing and removably clampedon a portion of said handle at the inner end of an adjacent auxiliaryhand-grip and an adjacent end portion of said primary hand-grip, asecond leg of a length corresponding to the length of said firstleganddisposed transversely .of the axis of said handle in spaced relationfrom the first leg, the upper end portion of .said second leg beingsecured to the handle between the inner end of the other auxiliaryhand-grip and the adjacentend of the primary hand-grip, the majorportiontof said second leg extending downwardly and outwardly from saidhandie, a spring-biased member pivotally mounted on the low- .er end ofsaid second leg, and an outwardly projecting pointed gripping pinprovided on said spring-biased member and adapted to engage acooperating surface of the .block to be lifted, portions of said firstand second legs below said handle being provided with correspondinglyconstructed cross heads the portions of which are at right angles to thelengthwise axes of said legs, said crossheads having outstandingportionsconstituting stops adapted to 4 rest atop the block and to limitthe descent of the lower end portions of the legs into the openingsprovided thereor in said block.

2. The devices as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower end of saidsecond leg is bifurcated, said spring-biased member being pivotallymounted between the furcations of said bifurcated leg end, thespring-biasing means of said member comprising a tension spring disposedinwardly of the second leg and anchored at one end thereof to an ,upperend portion of the latter, the other end of said spring being anchoredto said-member whereby to pivotally urge the same to a position whereinsaid pin is in gripping engagement with said cooperating surface of theblock to be lifted. V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS796,642 Hall Aug. 8, 1905 820,946 Blazar May 22, 1906 1,495,179 HofferMay 27, 1924 2,541,863 Deans et a1 Feb. 13, 1951 2,617,548 Falkner Nov.11, 1952 2,879,102 Kughler Mar. 24, 1959

